Olive Grove Studios

Accommodation in Svoronata

       
Christine U

Just returned from staying at thee olive grove apartments had a great time.its been said before apartments very basic .we didnt hire a car but we walked in to lassi it took us about three hours we allso walked over the top road to argostoli that took about five hours on and off  that was hard going but worth it we sore lizard s.goats , wild flowers things we would not have noticed in a car. Also did the trip hidden jewels of Kefalonia that was a really good day out not to be missed.WAS NOT IMPRESSED WITH THE THOMAS COOK REP found her a complete waste of time booked with her to go on trip when we got to bus was told we were not on list .will be going back to olive grove next year but will book direct everyone was very friendly bar was not over priced pool was nice and clean enjoyed the barbecue. can,t wait to go again.

Ally H          9/10

    Location : Excellent
  Quietness : Excellent
  Cleanliness : Excellent

Just returned from the Olive Grove having spent the half term break there with my family including two children aged 3 and 6. I have to say it was better than expected and very quiet. The proximity to the airport was not problem as very few flights and not very loud.
We had a two bedroom apartment which was well maintained and cleaned thoughout and had a full size fridge freezer in the kitchen.
The swimming pools were excellent and safe for children and the pool bar represented good value for money.
The nearest supermarket is about a ten minute walk away and stocks a reasonable range of products but appears expensive but this is only due to the terrible exchange rate at present.
There are six tavernas within a ten minute walk and all offer a good range of food at reasonable cost but it appears Gemini bistro has either closed down or not yet open
The closest beach (Avithos) is a thirty minute walk away but a decent beach with three tavernas next to it.
We attended the welcome meeting with Thomas Cook and they give you a leaflet from Avis for car hire the prices of which can only be described as shocking. Luckily I had read previous posts and knew that Greekstones ( a ten minute walk) was the place to go.
We booked our car for HALF the price of the Thomas Cook deal and it was much better in terms of insurance cover provided. Have a look at their website before you go and you will see what I mean
We got out and about in the car and the roads are no different than other Greek Islands we have visited and ther is a great deal to see. The underground lake was the highlight for all of us and antisamos beach is beautiful.
 
Enjoy
 

Ally H

You can book with Thomas Cook as I have done for two weeks time.

I hope its as good as the reviews sugest.

Susan B

We stayed next door at the Niko apartments in 2003 but went across to the bar at the olive grove each day as they had a bar Clap We would luv to go back there this year & stay at the Olive grove but which travel company operates with them?? We have tried various but no luck!! Anyone can you help please?? Ouch

Carly J          10/10

just arrived back from the olive grove apartments, fantastic. we had a late deal so i wasn't expecting such a nice place. the pool was excellent, really friendly staff and ready to help whatever you needed.  it was kept so clean. the bins in the rooms were emptied every day. it was only 10 mins from the airport and it was so quiet. i would definatley recommend the Gemini Bistro for eating out, especially if you have kids!

Ina            

We have just been to the Olive Grove and its brilliant, throughly recommend it.  Quiet, very pretty and clean.  Gardens are lovely and there are some beautiful cats there - (give the black and white one some food he has a sore mouth and needs a bit of help poor thing!).  The apartments are clean and nice, although quite basic for self catering just two rings no kettle or anything. Pool good, quite big and like 2/3 pools jouned together. Wonderful beach at Avithos and great tavernas nearby especially Preview, food great and waiter very nice. Good idea to hire a car though.

Good mini market not too far away, very friendly and well stocked.
Would love to go back some time.

Rodney T

Just booked for olive grove apts, in svoronata, kefalonia. Could anyone give me a description of type and condition of pool. It looks ok in pix i have seen.

Stuart M           

Olive Grove is set down a road approx 10 mins away from the tavernas, this is a nice gentle walk and is completely flat.

 
We have been there twice.  The staff are great and always pleased to help. Yassu Costa and Kiki. The accomodation is basic yet clean and well maintained.  The pool are is a great asset especially on a hot day and you can't make the beach, all about 25-35 mins away but worth the walk.
 
There is a nice pool bar open all day and night until the last person goes to bed.  It is not a busy bar at night so it won't disturb you if you are in bed!  Sky tv is available so you can sit there all day with a beer watching England thrash the Aussies!!!
 
Sagitarius rent a car is probably the best place to get a car from. 60 Euros for 3 days.  Car is recommende but do not get it through First Choice, they wanted 130 Euros for the same thing!
 
 

Julie R           

We have just come home after a wonderful fortnight in Kephalonia and would visit the island again without a doubt. The Olive Grove Apartments was a great place to stay but you need a car or scooter to discover the island. If you don't mind a 15-20 minute walk there is a great beach at Avithos and the kiosk owner is very friendly with plenty of choice for beach snacks and drinks. Our apartment was very comfortable with everything you need. If you want to get involved you can, but if you want to go off and do your own thing, no one minds. It's so laid back. Kephalonia is a superb island with so much to see and do and everyone was very friendly towards us. Our local market man was great too, helping us pick up a bit a Greek along the way. Make sure if you go late season you don't stay longer than mid October as most things seem to close down by then but quite a few good local restaurants to chose from. We've just got the photos back and are going to spend this weekend reliving what was the most fantastic holiday. I would recommend the Olive Grove highly and will definitely go back there ourselves when we visit the island again. ENJOY!!

Kathleen D

can anyone tell me what the three bedroom apartments are like at the olive grove as we are going there in october thank you

Kim E           

There are no tennis courts at or near these apartments, we took rackets, but weighed cases down for nothing. At first I thought never again, basic apartments and middle of nowhere, but everyone got cars and so the pool and sun beds were never busy, and the quietness suited us at night for sleep. You do need to walk to the local restaurants and everyone seemed to eat around 9 to 10 p.m. so the walk was cooler, or hire a car to go into Lassi or Argostoli. But we are planning to go there again, so that speaks for itself.
Don't be alarmed by the laid back ownere Costos. There is no reception and in our apartment the safe was not attached to the wall, but everything was ok.

Kim E           

To Paul King,
Went here in July. There are no tennis courts at or near these apartments. We took tennis rackets in case, but won't bother next time. My first reaction was basic apartments in the middle of nowhere, but after a few days appreciated this. Everyone hires a car, so the pool area is never busy, and if you can put up with basic kitchen and bathroom (who goes on holiday to cook anyway) and are prepared to walk or get taxis to restaurants further afield like Lassi and Argostoli (although there are some in Svoronata varying from 15 to 30 minute walk.) you will love this place. May well be going back next year.

Paul K           

Can anyone help?! We are going to the Olive Grove Apartments at the end of the month & wondered if anyone can tell us if there are any tennis courts in the area? Many thanks.

Neil M           

Hey Simon
Why didn't you mention your joining of automobile metal with an Austrian
gentleman on the road with said hairpins???????
Neil

Robert B           

My wife and i went there, hoping for a quiet week away, and tat was exactly what we got. If you want lots of noise and things to do, this is not the place.
the pool was great, the# service was great, the rooms were basic, but very good standard for greece! i would recommed whole heartedly the olive grove and will one day return,
you will not regret going, if you want rest and recuperation

Well Done Costas

Simon H           

We visited Olive Grove Apartment on the 13th of June for 2 weeks. We were very impressed with the peaceful location and the cleanliness of the apartments. If you do intend to self cater then the apartments are very basic. You will need take a sharp knife for cutting bread and vegetables ( and there is no chopping board). We took a travel kettle which was very useful. You do need a car as there is very limited eating places nearby, there are about 4 restaurants within about a 10-15 minuted walk from the apartments the best in our opinion was Dum Spriros - very friendly and good quality food. Everyone is really friendly both guests staying at the Olive Grove and locals. The apratments have air conditioning available but Costas the owner charges 6 euros per night if you want it. The grounds are kept immaculate as is the pool and poolside area. Even though the apartments were fully booked there was always plenty of sun beds. This is a good base if you want to explore the island but have a good, reasonably priced base to stay in. We had a throughly good holiday and made lots of good aquaintances! We can recommend visiting Assos and Fiskardo - take care on the roads, some hair pin bends! The road from Fiskardo to Sami on the north east coast has fantastic views.

Sandy A           

Just come back from a two week stay at the Olive Grove. Basic but very clean. Costa and Kiki were both very kind and helpfull. The pools were very good and very safe and everyone was friendly. We will definitely make a return trip but will make sure we have mosquito spray on hand. Lots of good places to eat but don't go to The Garden it looked o.k. but the food was not up to much and the plates, glasses etc were not very clean. Best beech was Avithos and the little Taverna on the beach was great.If you read this Costa we will be in touch soon.

Neil M           

Hi Emma
I returned from the Olive Grove recently and you will, I'm sure, have a great
time there. The pool bar serves all evening and closes when the last person
goes to bed (avoid the BMW cocktails - the only drink that made me fall over
all fortnight- with a little help from an abandoned lilo left by the pool!!)
The nearest beach is Avithos which is approx. a 20 minutes (hot in July) walk
or two or three minutes by car. It's a lovely beach and not windy at all,
There are two tavernas down at the beach and some nearer, just around the
corner from the apartments. The best of which, in my opinion, are Dum Spiros
Spero or the Garden Taverna. There are others a little further afield which I'm
sure you'll find out when you arrive.
Have a great time.
Neil
Ps Say hello to Kiki, the delightful barmaid.

John M           

Very nice place to stay.Be carefull if you make your own way to Olive grove by taxi from the airport a ripoff 17 euro's. Another tip get your beer or other drinks from the supermarket it's a lot cheaper than buying from the bar on site when he charges 10 euro's for two whiskeys' and 4 euros' for two small beers, get your own and put it in the fridge.Apart from that great place, oh and get a car you will need one. Avithos beach nereby is lovely and the restaurant Omerta has a great seaview while dinning.Good food but a little bit more expensive than usual tavernas.

Emma F           

I am going to stay at the Olive Grove appartments on 6 July, I just wondered if some one could let me how far the nearest beach is and are they quite windy, and are we far away from the restaurants in Svoronata. Does the pool bar at Olive Groves stay open in an evening? Soory lots of questions are going round in my head!

Clare B           

Cathy, for car hire I highly recommend Greekstones! They're just round the corner from the Olive Grove and are extremely helpful and friendly. Their rates are pretty good. You can book prior to going - their website is www.greekstones-rentacar.com. Melis and his staff are really helpful...in fact, nearly everywhere we went on the island was following recommendations from Greekstones, and they were spot on!

Clare B           

We've just returned from 2 weeks, staying at the Olive Grove Studios, and we had a fantastic time. Do try to hire a car and see the whole island - it is a beautiful place. The Olive Grove was lovely accommodation - we had a studio rather than an apartment, and it was always kept clean. The pools are nice and, after going out somewhere for the day, we always liked to come back later in the afternoon to use the pool and cool off. The weather was very hot! We ate at a couple of the local tavernas, but because we had the car, we also explored alot and found some brilliant ones further afield. For the best restaurant close to the Olive Grove, I'd recommend Fois, which is on the route to Ai Helis beach. But I think the best taverna we went to on the island was in Katelios, about 30 minutes drive away....fantastic seafood. Would definitely recommend the Olive Grove Studios and hope to go back to Kefalonia again.

Cathy C           

Have booked to go in August from all the comments seems we should have booked a car !!!!Is it cheaper to do this there ?Last year we pre booked a car for Crete but deals were much better there !!

Yvonne F           

I think you will find that the Olive Grove Apartments are exclusive to First Choice Holidays. We were there the 1st week in May and had mixed weather and plenty of wind which was a night mare for the guys on the beaches who were trying to be cleaned up and open for the next week. The beaches were covered in seaweed and the sea at Agostoli was so rough that the ferry stopped and rubble was thrown out of the sea over the road. However, it was a great holiday with wild flowers, oranges & lemons in full flight and being back in Kefalonia after 7 years was terrific. We met an English couple who keep the Health place in the Village. (Where you turn left to the supermarket turn right and they are just up there on the left - there is a sign at the crossroads pointing to them). They have plenty to offer Indian Head Massage etc. etc. We thought the best place to eat was Porto Helis. Go by the supermarket and quite a way down you will see another supermarket which is a complex. The Restaurant is there (you can hire push bikes as well). The veg. isn't quite as good as some of the other Restaurants (Dum Peros) but the lamb chops are especially good and you get at least 5.

Watch the First Choice deal for car hire. They advertise an A class car for E 60 (or it may have been 80 - can't quite remember) for 3 days but when it was delivered we were charged E115. The rep was going to take it up but never got round to it so we told her to get a refund and buy the reps a drink.

Anyways the Olive Grove is a lovely place to stay. It is spotless and the pools are beautiful - look out for the crab at night! Staff are really friendly as well.

Don't forget get out and about and explore either by car, push bikes or foot. It's pretty flat around the area so push bikes are a great way of getting around.

Fingers crossed for the lotery so that we can get back there as soon as poss.

Have a great time all of you that are off soon - we are jealous.

Rod M

I would like to know which tour operator I can book The Olive Grove Studios through. Thanks
Romills1@aol.com